Armagh against Down in an Ulster Championship semi-final on May Bank Holiday weekend is something that certainly sparks a bit of life into a supporter, particularly around the south Armagh and Newry areas.
Clones is a fantastic venue to play in, but on this occasion, I think the smart thing to do would have been to toss for home advantage.
Both counties have fantastic stadiums that can more than cater for this type of match and the atmosphere that either stadium generates would have been unbelievable.
However, the decision is made and with all supporters heading in the one direction, you would need to be early on the road to get the feel of the occasion.
And Clones so often has a magical air about it on an Ulster SFC day. There are very few better drives leading up to a pitch than going up Church Hill and feeling the buzz of the supporters on the streets. It’s a goosebump moment and one that the players should enjoy and embrace.
It’s also the moment that you realise that things are real and time to get in game mode. For a long time, Clones was like a home venue for Armagh with a sea of orange and white filling the streets and onto the stands during the 2000s.
In recent years, it has also been a decent hunting ground for Armagh with this team experiencing great Championship victories over experienced teams like Donegal and Monaghan.
They will have to rely on those recent experiences as much as anything when they face an improving Down side managed by an All-Ireland club winner in Conor Laverty if they are to see this game out on Sunday.
Armagh are favourites heading into the match and it’s a tag that has not always suited them, but that is something they need to be able to deal with to kick on and contest for silverware.
Armagh were also strong favourites in 2017 and in 2019 against the same opponents and got turned over in 2017.
Two years later, the game went to extra-time with Andrew Murnin coming off the bench to help see Armagh over the line.
I don’t believe in the favourites moniker when it comes to games between Armagh and Down. It’s a local derby match and it’s a game that Conor Laverty and Marty Clarke will have their boys absolutely bouncing for, so pre-match statuses go out the window.
I listened to the GAA Social Podcast after Down’s victory over Donegal with their full forward Pat Havern and there were a couple of things that stood out for me in it.
When speaking about his manager Laverty, he said that he was the smartest man that he has come across in his time playing the game.
I know Conor myself and you can be guaranteed that he has a plan that he believes is good enough to see his team gain an advantage on Armagh. He will most definitely make sure that no stone will be left unturned in his preparation for this match.
Havern also took the penalty away from Ryan McEvoy on Sunday and that told me that he is a player full of confidence but also a player prepared to show leadership in the heat of battle and of course he scored it.
That’s a courageous thing to do, particularly when thousands are watching you and the game is live on TV.
The last thing that he said that I liked, because you want your players to have this belief, is that they won't fear Armagh. And why would they?
I have a good idea of football in Down and they have some tremendous players blessed with all the skills of the game and this team in particular have lightning pace, especially their half-forward line.
Liam Kerr’s pick-up at speed and execution for his goal against Donegal proves this point. I coached Liam a few years ago and very few players in Ulster have the ability to carry the ball like he does.
Danny Magill is very similar. A tremendous young footballer with a huge career ahead of him and Sunday showed that he is made for Championship days. The list is endless in terms of the talent that Down possess, Ryan Johnston, Havern, Daniel Guinness, Ceilum Doherty, so, indeed, why would a team led by Laverty fear Armagh. No reason at all and that is the scary part.
As we know, Armagh are also blessed with extremely talented players. In fact, they are game changers and on their day are in the top tier of teams in the country. I just hope that this Sunday is one of those days that they prove it or else it will be a case of avoiding Newry at all costs until the dust settles again.
